Ferrari San Marco: The Roar of the Cavallino Rampante on Water
In the world of motorsport, some stories drift between legend and reality. Some roll on asphalt. Others, like this one, glide across the water. The Ferrari San Marco is not a car, but it beats with a V12 heart signed in Maranello. Born in 1957, this racing hydroplane was a technical gem built by Cantieri Navali San Marco and powered by the same mechanical soul that once roared through Ferrari’s Formula One machines.
A bold experiment that carried the roar of the Cavallino Rampante beyond the circuit—and now rests as a silent, yet fierce, testimony at the Enzo Ferrari Museum in Modena.
A Hydroplane with Formula One Ambition
Officially known as the San Marco-Ferrari KD800, this boat followed the “three-point” hydroplane design: two front sponsons and a narrow tail in contact with the water. The goal? Minimize drag to reach unimaginable speeds for its time.
But the true soul of this machine lay deep within: a Lampredi V12 engine from Ferrari, the same engine built to roar through circuits like Monza or Spa. Adapted for marine use, the engine was tuned by Ferrari’s own Corsa department, yes, the same crew behind their F1 cars. A cooling system was devised that pulled water directly from the lake. At full throttle, the engine could produce between 550 and 600 horsepower, all in a body that barely skimmed the surface.
It wasn't a Ferrari... But it was
Ferrari didn’t build the hull. That credit belongs to the San Marco shipyard. But the soul? Pure Ferrari. And not just any Ferrari. The engine was carefully installed and tuned by the technicians in Maranello, and the boat bore the hull number 069. An unusual and visionary collaboration, born in a time when the lines between disciplines were more fluid and engineering was measured in horsepower, not budgets.
Racing across the Water
In the 1950s and '60s, this type of hydroplane dominated high-speed boat racing. Competitions took place on lakes across Italy, Switzerland, and France, drawing an elite crowd of drivers and mechanics who saw water as the next frontier. While the San Marco-Ferrari didn’t reach the fame of its land-bound siblings, it became a symbol of Ferrari’s technical prowess, even beyond the track.
In a boat like the San Marco-Ferrari, control came down to precision. Its wooden steering wheel required both grip and sensitivity. A good pair of gloves wasn’t optional, it was essential. Today, something like Café Leather’s Suede Red Driving Gloves offers that same balance of function and classic feel. Their fit, texture, and grip respond to what demanding driving or piloting asks for, whether on the road or, as in this case, across the water.
The only thing missing from a wooden steering wheel is a proper pair of gloves. Isn't it?
Driving Gloves in Red Suede
- Regular price
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€199,00 - Regular price
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- Sale price
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€199,00
Tax included.
Shipping calculated at checkout.
From the Waves to the Museum
Today, the Ferrari San Marco is on display at the Enzo Ferrari Museum, alongside some of the most legendary machines ever built by the Scuderia. It gleams under the lights with a quiet elegance, as if still humming inside. A time capsule that captures the spirit of an era when speed knew no boundaries: if it had an engine, it was a place to dream.
Photo: Henri Thibault
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